The Barcelona Low Emission Zone (Catalan: Zona de Baixes Emisions) was introduced in 2020 to reduce the adverse effects of vehicle emissions on the health of Barcelona residents.
Access to the Barcelona Low Emission Zone is restricted from Monday to Friday between seven am and eight pm. During this time, vehicles entering the area must have an environmental label issued by the DGT. Owners of foreign-registered vehicles must register their vehicles with the AMB before arrival.
Older and more polluting vehicles can apply for a temporary permit valid for twenty-four hours. Drivers who enter the ZBE in a vehicle that doesn’t have an environmental label or hasn’t registered correctly may be fined up to €200. The only exceptions are the main Barcelona ring roads which are exempt.
How the ZBE Low Emissions Zone works
The idea of the ZBE is to improve the city’s air quality and improve the health and quality of life of residents. This is done by restricting the movement of older and more polluting vehicles using a system introduced by the DGT (the Spanish transport ministry), whereby vehicles are issued with an environmental label corresponding to the levels of exhaust emissions that they produce.
Vehicles manufactured after the year 2000, in the case of gasoline cars and motorbikes, and 2006, in the case of diesel cars and vans, are issued with one of four labels based on European emissions legislation. Lorries, trucks, buses, and coaches manufactured from 2006 onwards also have similar labels.
Older vehicles that haven’t been issued with an environmental label can not enter the ZBE from Monday to Friday between seven am and eight pm, except for public holidays*.
Foreign registered vehicles must register with the ATM (Municipal Transport Authority) before arrival in Barcelona using this form. It currently costs €7 to register a car. The permit may take up to fifteen days to be processed, so you should apply at least three weeks before arrival.
Once registered, gasoline cars that comply with Euro III emissions regulations, Diesel cars, vans and lorries which comply with Euro IV emissions regulations and motorbikes which comply with Euro II emissions regulations are allowed to enter the ZBE at any time.
*Older and more polluting vehicles can apply for a one-day pass to enter the city, which costs €5 or €6 depending on the type of vehicle. A vehicle may only be issued with a maximum of ten one-day passes per year.
Left it until the last minute?
If you will be arriving in Barcelona within the next few days and have only just heard about the Low Emissions Zone, you should go ahead and register your vehicle using the link above.
Once registered online, you can get the registration approved immediately by calling the ZBE Helpline on +34 930 333 555; lines are open from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 2 pm.
The line is initially answered by a recorded message in Catalan which asks you to select Catalan, Spanish or English by dialling 1, 2 or 3, respectively.
Once you’ve dialled 3, you will be put through to an English-speaking operator who will manually check and approve your application so that you can drive in the Low Emissions Zone straight away.
Map of the ZBE, Barcelona Low Emission Zone
Barcelona Low Emission Zone FAQs
Which towns are included in the ZBE?
The Barcelona Low Emissions Zone or ZBE covers an area of approximately ninety-five square kilometres, which includes the entire city of Barcelona plus L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Adrià de Besòs and parts of Espluges de Llobregat and Cornellà.
How much does it cost to enter the Barcelona ZBE?
Unlike the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone, there is no fee to enter the Barcelona Low Emissions Zone. Vehicles that don’t meet the relevant emissions regulations or haven’t applied for a special permit simply aren’t allowed to enter at certain times of the day.
Foreign vehicles must register with the local transport authority, which costs €7.
Does the ZBE Low Emission Zone apply to foreign vehicles?
Both Spanish and Foreign registered vehicles must comply with the Barcelona Low Emission Zone restrictions.
Spanish-registered vehicles are issued with a so-called DGT Environmental Label, which is displayed on the vehicle’s windscreen.
Foreign registered vehicles must register with the AMB before arriving in the city. The fine for non-compliance is currently €200.
How can I register my vehicle for the Barcelona ZBE?
You can register your vehicle on the Metropolitan Transport Authority website here.
During the registration process, you are asked to provide documental proof that your vehicle complies with the relevant emissions legislation, as well as proof of ownership and your home address.
If your vehicle doesn’t comply with the emissions limits, you can still apply for a one-day pass. The passes cost €5 or €6 per day, depending on the type of vehicle.
If you prefer, you can apply by post using this form.
Which vehicles are affected by the Barcelona Low Emission Zone?
When the ZBE is in effect, all vehicles entering the city must either have an environmental label or be registered with the local authorities as described above.
Generally speaking, gasoline cars and motorbikes registered after the year 2000 and diesel cars, vans, RVs, lorries, coaches and buses registered after 2006 are allowed to circulate in the Barcelona Low Emissions zone at any time.
Older vehicles must apply for a special permit that will enable them to drive in the city for twenty-four hours.
How much is the fine for driving in the ZBE in a vehicle that isn’t registered?
The fine for driving in the Barcelona Low Emissions Zone in a vehicle that doesn’t have an environmental label or hasn’t been registered with the ATM is €200. This can typically be reduced to €100 if you pay within twenty days of receiving the fine.
Which vehicles are exempt from the ZBE Low emissions zone?
Vehicles that have been adapted for transporting people with reduced mobility, as well as emergency services vehicles and hearses, can apply for an exemption here.
Are rental cars exempt from the ZBE?
The ZBE regulations apply to rental vehicles. However, since rental cars are seldom more than one or two years old, you will not have to pay anything to drive in Barcelona when renting a vehicle in Spain.
Suppose you visit Barcelona with a vehicle you rented in another European country. In that case, you should contact the rental company to see whether they will register the vehicle as described above. Most rental companies charge extra if you want to drive their cars in another country.
Can lorries and coaches drive in the Barcelona Low Emission Zone?
Lorries, coaches and camper vans based on a C1 truck chassis that meet Euro IV emissions legislation are allowed to circulate in Barcelona when the ZBE is in effect, Monday to Friday between seven a.m. and eight p.m.
Foreign-registered vehicles must register online at the AMB website before arriving in Barcelona. Spanish-registered vehicles are required to have an environmental label which is issued by the DGT.
Older vehicles may apply for a one-day pass, which costs €6.
Is Barcelona Ferry Terminal within the ZBE?
Barcelona’s ferry port is outside the Low Emissions Zone. However, depending on which ferry line you are travelling with and your point of origin, you may end up driving through the low-emissions zone in order to get there. I recommend you plan your route carefully and check it against the ZBE map before making a decision.
My vehicle has an environmental sticker issued by my home country. Do I still need to register?
Yes, all foreign registered vehicles need to be registered with the AMB before arrival in Barcelona, as described above. This includes vehicles which have a sticker that allows them to drive in LEZs in the country where they are registered.
In 2023 the Spanish traffic authority, the DGT, announced that they recognize equivalent environmental stickers issued by other EU member states. They even went as far as to publish these tables, which correlate the Spanish labels with stickers issued by other countries. However, when I called the ZBE Helpline, they told me that even if a foreign-registered vehicle has a sticker which is recognised by the DGT, it still needs to be registered before driving in the ZBE.
I’ve registered my foreign vehicle to drive in Barcelona, am I entitled to drive in the LEZ in other Spanish cities?
The official ATM website states the following:
To facilitate the unification and access of foreign vehicles in other low-emission areas of Spain, it has been agreed with the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) to share the database of foreign vehicles that authorize it. In this way, users will be able to access the ZBE that is established in coordination with the DGT if they have authorized the AMB to communicate their data.
So it seems that as long as you authorise the AMB to share your data, once your vehicle has been registered in Barcelona, you are OK to drive in other Spanish cities which have a Low Emission Zone. Having said that, if I were you, I’d contact the other cities’ transport authorities to make sure.
Have I missed anything? If you’ve any questions relating to the Barcelona Low Emission Zone, leave a comment below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Richard, thx for the info. We’ll be driving a rental car from Toulouse, FR to Barcelona on Sunday (March 26th) and leaving Wednesday (29th). If I understand correctly, we wouldn’t need to register if we arrive on Sunday, and leave before 7am on Wednesday (assuming we never drove anywhere in between). Conversely, if we stay later than 7am on Wednesday then we would need to register.
Thx.
Hi Brad,
That’s how I understand it; currently, as long as the vehicle remains in the hotel car park and doesn’t circulate when the ZBE is in effect, you don’t need to register. If you want to be 100% certain, you can call the ZBE helpline on +34 930 333 555.
Hi Brad, my family was planning on doing the same, did this work?
So to only arrive in the weekend and leave early befote 7am, and in between stay parked in the city
Hi Martina,
As I said to Brad, as long as the vehicle remains parked in the hotel car park when the ZBE is in force, you shouldn’t have any issues. If you want to be 100% certain, you can call the ZBE helpline on +34 930 333 555
Can B sticker park in the city centre
Hi Ged,
I guess you’re referring to the recent articles in the Spanish press which have said that during 2023 a new law will be introduced which will still allow cars with a “B” environmental sticker to enter Barcelona, just that they won’t be able to park on the street and will have to park in private car parks, right?
Well, this morning I called the ZBE helpline, who told me that they hadn’t heard about this law and told me to ask the city council.
I then called the city council who assured me that you are currently allowed to park a car with a “B” environmental sticker in the city centre and that, as far as they know, there are currently no plans to change this.
They say that if, and when the legistation is introduced it will be announced on the city hall website.
Hi. I have registered my car on line and it has been accepted on line. But should I have some sort of a windscreen sticker? My address wasn’t requested…… And do I still have to pay a daily fee for when I enter the Barcelona zone? If so, where do I buy a daily fee in Spain?
Hi David,
Foreign cars don’t get a window sticker. The Barcelona low emissions zone is monitored by cameras which photograph numberplates and compare them with a database; there’s no need for stickers.
Assuming your vehicle was first registered after 2000, if it’s a petrol car, or after 2006 in the case of diesel, then once you’ve registered online, there’s nothing else to do. You don’t need to pay for daily passes.
Did Kat ever share back? We have a similar situation – we will be driving a rental (from Bordeaux France). You said one solution is to park at the airport long term parking and leave the car there while we tour Barcelona. Interestingly, I looked at airport hotels and they indicated they are in the Zone. Does that make sense? Do you know of any towns that we could stay in that are not in the Zone that we could easily commute to Barcelona? Thanks for your help.
Hi Deborah,
Unfortunately, Kat never got back to me to let me know how she got on.
RE. the airport hotels, the airport is definitely outside the low-emission zone, so I’m not sure which hotels you’ve looked at. Perhaps they are getting confused with public transport zone one, which does include the airport?
When I wrote the comment about the airport car park, I meant to leave the car at the airport and then stay in Barcelona. The town which would be easiest to commute from would be Badalona which is in transport zone 1 and well connected by both train and metro. It’s not generally a very interesting town, but the area by the seafront is quite nice, and there are a couple of hotels in this area which in my opinion would be a nicer area to stay in than the airport. For example, Hotel Miramar is in a good location and gets good reviews, it also says that it has a car park. There’s also a car park near the train station.
Several readers have found that they have been able to accelerate the registration process by uploading the vehicle’s documents online and then calling the ZBE helpline (+34 930 333 555) to get the registration approved immediately. I’m thinking that it may be possible to do this process when you are at the car rental offices in France (ask them to scan the documents for you) and get the car registered that way. Maybe you could call the ZBE helpline and the rental company and ask whether that would be feasible.
You should also bear in mind the fact that the ZBE only operates on weekdays between seven am and eight pm. So you could either time your arrival and departure accordingly or temporarily leave your rental car in a car park outside the ZBE, check in to your hotel and then go back to pick your car up later in the day. Bear in mind that if you leave the car in a car park, you shouldn’t leave any valuables or suitcases in it.
Hi – I visited Barcelona in January 2022. At that time, prior to arriving with my US-registered car, I was able to register it online. I plan to visit Barcelona again with the same car in October 2023. Does the registration expire? Do I need to re-register or once the car is in the system, it’s good indefinitely?
Hi MT,
My understanding is that your vehicle will still be in the database and that you won’t need to re-register.
Hi There,
I’ll be traveling around Spain in the summer with family in our three 1979 VW Campers. Do you happen to know whether Spain supports exceptions for really old vehicles as in the UK and will I still have to register the vehicles with the ATM etc.
Hello Tim,
As far as I know, there are currently only two cities in Spain with a Low Emissions zone in place; Barcelona and Madrid. I believe that Valencia, Valladolid and Seville will also be introducing a similar scheme sometime later this year.
In the case of Barcelona, there are no exceptions for older and classic vehicles. Indeed, I have a friend who has sold her car because of this, and I myself currently park my thirty-year-old Mercedes van, which I only use at the weekends, in a car park outside Barcelona and am seriously thinking of getting rid of it!
In your case, since I’m assuming that you’ll only be in Barcelona for a few days at most, you don’t have to worry too much. In the case of older vehicles like yours, once you have registered your vehicle using the link above, you can apply for up to ten single-day passes per year.
I imagine that this will more than cover your visit. Especially when you consider the fact that the ZBE scheme doesn’t take effect at the weekends or from 8 pm to 7 am on weekdays. Plus, if you leave your vehicle in a car park, you also aren’t affected; it’s only when you actually drive the vehicle, if you see what I mean.
Hi Richard,
That’s really useful information and a great tip re. the 10x ‘day’ passes.
We are likely to also visit Seville and Valencia so will need to do a bit of homework in finding out-of-city parking and a bus. Thanks for the great feedback, really helpful!
Cheers …. Tim
Hi Tim,
Just by chance, I spoke to a colleague from Valencia today who told me that, from what he’s heard on the local news, the council has yet to decide which company will install the infrastructure, so it seems unlikely that it will be up and running in the next few months.
I’ve done some googling about the LEZ in Seville and found this article which has maps of the zones and also lists areas where you can park for free outside the LEZ and speaks of a grace period of 18 months. Similarly, this article also speaks of a period of 18 months when they won’t be issuing fines.
Thanks Richard!
It seems as though the emission zones are also very localised to the centre and that there is plenty of free parking just a few minutes walk away. It’ll be easier to simply avoid them and park outside.
Thanks for the links, they have been very helpful.
Cheers …. Tim
You’re welcome, Tim, have a great trip.
Hi Richard, please forgive me if you’ve already answered this question but I didn’t spot it in the other comments. We will be driving from France through to Valencia on the E15/A7. I’m assuming that as long as we stay on this motorway we don’t need to register our vehicle as we won’t be affected by the ZBE, but I’ve learnt to my cost that it’s never ok to assume and to always check. Thanks so much for helping everyone out with this.
Hi Helen,
Don’t worry; as long as you stick to the motorway and don’t enter Barcelona, you aren’t affected by the Barcelona Low Emissions Zone.
However, I believe that Valencia intends to introduce a similar scheme later this year, so if you are planning to enter the city, you should try and find out about that in case it’s been implemented by the time you arrive.
I’ve had a quick search on Google, and as far as I can see, they are still at the installing infrastructure stage, and there hasn’t been a date set for it becoming active. In the case of Barcelona, they didn’t start issuing fines until about a year after they first set up the LEZ. But, as you say, better safe than sorry.
Thanks Richard. This is a really useful blog and you’ve given us reassurance about our trip past Barcelona as well as a heads up about Valencia which we were unaware of. That’s above and beyond! Thank you
You’re welcome, Helen. Have a great trip.
Just wanted to add my thanks.
Registered my UK car this morning, paid fee then called help line as suggested,
The operator changed my car status to approved whilst I was on the phone and he was very helpful too. You can check the status in your online account using your passport number as username.
If you had a buy you a coffee button I would do just that !
Hi Jon,
Thanks for the feedback; it’s good to hear that the article was helpful and that things went so smoothly!
I registered my foreign car (DE) with ZBE and it was accepted. Now, do I have to buy daily passes? Or am I good? I don’t understand the 10 daily passes thing the website is talking about.
Thank you!
Hi M,
How old is your vehicle?
The daily passes are only needed for older vehicles. In the case of diesel cars, that means pre-2006 and for gasoline pre-2000.
Assuming your car isn’t that old, you don’t need a daily pass. As long as its registered you’re good to go.
Thanks for this. Is it a given that all rental cars at the rental car area (via shuttle) nr Barcelona Airport are new enough not to have to worry about this?We’ll be entering Barcelona center daily.
Hi Leonie,
Most rental cars from reputable companies are less than a year or two old so it shouldn’t be a problem.
Richard,
This has been the most helpful website- thanks so much. I have managed to follow the instructions and get my application approved immediately!
So grateful to you!
Hi Neale,
That’s good to hear, thanks for the feedback.
Hi Richard
I arrived in Barcelona city centre on Saturday at our hotel and did not realise we needed to register our vehicle in advance of our trip opppps! We leave on Monday morning to continue our journey back to the UK. Do I only need to apply for a 24hour pass for Monday? And can I call on Monday to register and pay?
Any Help and advice would be great.
Thank you
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
Don’t worry, you’ve still got time to get this sorted!
Firstly, if you’re leaving Barcelona before seven am, you don’t need to do anything because the ZBE doesn’t come into effect until seven am on Monday morning.
If you are leaving after seven am, then you should apply online now using the link in the article above. Once you’ve uploaded a copy of your documents and paid, your application will show as “pending”.
Then tomorrow morning, before you set off, you need to call the Helpline number given above, explain the situation and ask them to manually approve your application.
If you call on Monday morning without applying online, they’ll likely tell you that you have to apply online first because they need you to upload a copy of your documents.
Hi Janet,
In theory, you have to upload a photo or scanned copy of the registration document in order to register the vehicle for the ZBE.
If there’s no one at home who could take a photo of the log book for you, then I recommend you call the ZBE Helpline on the number in the article above and ask whether they can help you. There’s a chance that they may still be able to register your vehicle for you.
Good luck, and I’d be interested to hear how you get on.
This is a fantastic site, thank you so much for the info! I’m due to drive my foreign car into Barcelona today, only just aware of the low emission zone. I called the number suggested. They said no problem, fill in the online form (all you need is a credit card to pay the 7 euros, your passport number and a photo of your registration document) and call us back. I did and they approved it on the spot. Very helpful, I think they want to help you because you’re trying to do the right thing.
Hi Pam,
Thanks for your comment and for telling us about your experience; I’m sure that other people who didn’t find out about the low emissions zone until the last minute will be glad to hear that they can get things sorted quickly.
Hello and thank you very much for the information.
I will have to enter Barcelona with a foreign rental car on the 18th Sep.
Unfortunately, I still do not know what car it will be. If the application is not processed on time, is there any way I can call the AMB and speak to them (preferably in English)?
Thank you very much for your time.
Hi Kat,
You can call the ZBE Helpline on +34 930 333 555, lines are open from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 2 pm. The line is initially answered by a recorded message in Catalan which asks you to select Catalan, Spanish or English by dialling 1, 2 or 3, respectively. Once you’ve dialled 3, you’ll be answered by an English-speaking operator who will be able to help you.
Incidentally, I’ve not found any reliable information about registering a foreign rental car to drive in the ZBE. If you have the time, I’d appreciate it if you could leave a comment letting us know how whether it’s possible and what information you have to provide.
Hello Richard
I’m afraid I have had the most horrendous experience with this site. I have called the customer service centre a dozen times because the site won’t let me pay on line. I don’t think the call centre is helpful at all. I have been told I should use Chrome, which I had. The English speakers do not under what the error messages mean. All in all it has taken me hours of frustration to try to pay my 5€. The bank can’t help you unless the registration form is printed so that the atm can read the bar code. Is it really necessary for me to carry a printer in my motorhome?!?! I went to a printing shop and they refused to print my document off from my phone.The post office in Alcossebre says that they don’t take payments either. For me it’s a very poorly supported system. Very disappointed.
Hi Julie,
I’m sorry to hear about your bad experience. The only thing that I can suggest at this point is that you try paying with another card.
Failing that, you could try using this form.
Hi Linda,
Unfortunately, historic vehicles are not exempt from the restrictions, and you will have to apply for a one-day pass.
Richard,
Thanks for your information in this article. My application was stuck on pending but a call, using the number you supplied, to a very helpful lady soon sorted it out.
Bob
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the feedback, from similar comments I’ve had from other readers, it seems that this happens quite often. I’m glad to hear you were able to get it sorted.
Hello Richard,
We are planning to visit Barcelona tomorrow 27.08.22 (Saturday), just for one day. Just found out about the low emissions zone. We are with a UK registered petrol car 2008. Do we need a one day permit as I have read that the low emissions zone restrictions are Monday to Friday?
Thank you!
Hi Dimitrina,
If you are only driving in Barcelona on Saturday, you don’t need to register your car or apply for a permit since, as you say, the ZBE only operates from Monday to Friday.
Hi Richard
Coming To Barcelona cruise terminal in Oct arrive Sat but leave 10am Thursday in a 21 plate Mercedes diesel, Will i need the stcker or will cameras pick up that car is exempt
Hi Mark,
Is your car on Spanish or UK plates?
All foreign (non-Spanish) registered cars, regardless of age, need to be registered using the link in the article above.
Hi Richard,
Looking at coming in to Barcelona tomorrow 24th August and stay in a hotel over night to watch the football then leave the next day. Just found out about the emission zone and need a way of getting the car on a daily ticket or registered to avoid a fine. It’s a 2013 Spanish vehicle. Can you help please.
Andy
Hi Andy,
I’ve some good news for you, if it’s a nine-year-old Spanish-registered vehicle, you probably don’t need to do anything at all.
Since the vehicle is registered in Spain, you can check on the DGT website (click here) to see whether it is entitled to en environmental label.
If the vehicle is entitled to a label, then you don’t really need to do anything else for now. As I said in some of the comments below, the ZBE is policed by cameras that photograph and check number plates. So it doesn’t really matter whether you’ve got the label stuck on the windscreen because the cameras aren’t looking for a sticker, they’re checking the registration number against a database.
Going forward, I think it’s worth getting the sticker (here) as other Spanish cities are bound to start implementing similar schemes, although at the moment only Barcelona and Madrid have done so so far.
Hi Richard,
We have a similar issue – Spanish car registered 2012. My husband drove from Alicante to Barcelona for the match last night – unaware of the low emissions system.
Any advice to avoid the fine?
Hi Jo,
As per my reply to Andy, I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about. A ten-year-old, Spanish-registered car should be entitled to an environmental label and is therefore allowed to enter the low emissions zone without having to pay anything or register.
If you purchased the car second-hand within the last couple of years, the label may have been included with the documents. If I were you, I’d take a look in the glove box in case a previous owner has tucked it away somewhere.
As mentioned, the ZBE is enforced by cameras that photograph vehicles’ numberplates and compare them with the DGT’s database. As long as your vehicle is entitled to an environmental label, you won’t get a fine, even if you haven’t stuck the label to the windscreen. You can check which label your vehicle is entitled to here.
In short, I don’t think you are going to be fined because I think that your car is allowed to drive in the ZBE, even though you haven’t displayed the environmental label.
Hi
Do I need to pay for or register my vehicle for Ulez Barcelona
In case the vehicle is a van euro 6 and it’s first registration in UK 2022
Hi Aleksandar,
Yes, if you will be driving in the Barcelona low emission zone on a weekday between seven am and eight pm, you will need to register your vehicle using the link in the article.
Hi Terry,
Unfortunately I have already arrived (touring Europe) and already driven through the city centre a few times daily for past 4 days.
I HAVE just applied online and they sent me a barcode certificate to print – but online still says PENDING.
the fine of €200/100 – is that for EACH day – or just a one off fine?
as I am here for 10 days.
thanks
Hi Shaun,
I recommend you call the ZBE call centre on +34 930 333 555. They will be able to approve your application and tell you what fines, if any, you will have to pay.
Hi , thanks for the tips, as one user has asked, we are comming from France and wondering where is best to park and get the train from outside the LEZ
Hi Kevin,
Since you’re coming from France, I imagine you’ll be arriving on the E-15/AP-7 motorway, right?
I think the best option, rather than following the signs on the motorway to Barcelona, would be to turn off at junction 12B and follow the signs to Mataró on the C-60. If I remember right, the turnoff is signposted to Granollers, Argentona and Mataró.
As you approach Mataró, there are three options signposted something like Mataró North, Mataró Center and Barcelona. At this point, you want to take the B-40 (signposted Mataró Center) and follow it to the end, where it terminates in a roundabout in a kind of industrial estate by the beach.
Here you take the N-II south towards Barcelona. The N-II runs along the coast, alongside the R1 train line and most, if not all, of the train stations on this line have free car parks. The last three train stations before Barcelona are all within travel zone one, so I recommend you leave your car at one of these.
The easiest to find will be Montgat Nord train station, which is one of two stations in the town of Montgat. If that car park is full, you can continue to Montgat, where the car park is shortly after the train station and finally Badalona train station although Badalona is a larger town and the station isn’t so easy to find.
This might sound complicated, but if you look at Google Maps and check out the locations of the car parks in Street View, you should be able to see what I’m talking about.
If you are staying in Barcelona overnight, I recommend you return to your car in the evening and move it to the car park at your hotel after the Low Emission Zone stops being in effect at eight pm.
If something isn’t clear, feel free to ask, and if you have time, I’d appreciate it if you could leave another comment to let us know where you decided to park and how it worked out.
Hello,
Is there a site where I can find parking lots outside the LEZ near public transport by which we can easily travel to the city center?
Hi Dirk,
Unfortunately, I’ve had a quick search online and haven’t found any websites with a really good list.
When I have some time, maybe this weekend, I’ll look into this further and add a section to the post because I think it would be a really helpful addition.
In the meantime, in case you’re arriving in the next couple of days, I know there are car parks at Badalona and Montgat train stations, just north of Barcelona, and Castelldefels train station to the South. You could also use the long stay car parks at the airport, which is also outside the ZBE.
Check back in a week or so and hopefully I’ll have added some more. Thanks for the idea!
Hi, do I need to register uk vehicle if I purchase a sticker from post office? (Arrive Sunday, depart Wed, remain parked throughout visit.) As I understand i would only need one daily sticker; do I need to bring anything to Post office please?
Thanks in advance
Hi Caroline,
You won’t be able to purchase a sticker for a UK-registered vehicle, the environmental labels are only issued for Spanish-registered vehicles.
You need to register the vehicle online using the link in the article, and once the documentation you upload has been approved, will receive an email confirming that it has been registered.
The daily permits are only for older vehicles, if your vehicle is less than about fifteen years old, you won’t need to apply for this.
Hi, do I understand correctly, that during Saturday’s and Sundays I can enter the zone without registering? (Foreign car)
Hi Filip,
Yes, you understand correctly. The ZBE only applies on weekdays.
From Friday evening at 8 pm until Monday morning at 7 am, you can drive a foreign car in Barcelona without registering it.
Hi Richard, I am travelling to Barcelona in ZBE zone with my french car. I have already registered it and status is showing accepted. But I am not able to get any document or mail saying it is acceptable. Is it normal or I should be getting some confirmation?
Thanks for your reply.
Hi Amit,
You will eventually receive an email with confirmation but it sometimes takes a day or two.
It doesn’t matter though, you don’t really need the email, as soon as the vehicle is registered and it’s been accepted you are allowed to drive in the ZBE.
As I said in a previous comment, the Barcelona low emission zone is policed electronically by cameras which photograph numberplates and compare them with a database of registered vehicles.
Hi Val,
If I was you I’d call the ZBE call centre, they will be able to advise.
The number is +34 930 333 555
Working hours: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 2 pm.
Tomorrow (Friday 24th of June) is a bank holiday here in Barcelona, so you’ll have to wait until Monday to call.
The phone is answered by an automated switchboard (initially in Catalan) which gives you the choice of being attended to in Catalan, Spanish and English.
Hopefully, they’ll be able to sort things out for you.
If you decide to call them, I’d appreciate it if you could let me know how you get on because this sort of information will be useful for other readers who find themselves in a similar situation.
Thank you for posting this! I had the same issue and called them this morning (option 3 for English) and they approved my application on the phone straight away :)
Hi Kate,
Thanks for the feedback, it’s good that they were able to sort it out for you so quickly.
I’m sure that other people who are in the same situation will be relieved when they read your comment!
Hi
I am driving a French hire car to Barcelona low emissions zone tomorrow and will arrive in the afternoon. I have attempted to register it on the ZBE website but it asks for proof of ownership and fuel emissions documentation. I uploaded the rental contract and a pdf of the vehicle’s technical specifications, then paid the €7 registration fee, but the registration application still says “pending”. I don’t know what else to do but need to drive to the hotel in the centre of Barcelona. One page says it can take up to 15 business days to approve the application. But the application process did not allow for anyone other than the owner of the vehicle, ie no flexibility for rental cars. What to do? I appreciate this is short notice but any advice would be appreciated because I know there is a €100 fine which Europcar will no doubt turn into a €400 fine! Cheers. Stu
Hi Stu,
Unfortunately at this point, I can’t give you much more than speculation. As you say, during the application process you are asked to give proof of ownership of the vehicle and I really don’t know whether a rental agreement will be sufficient.
What I can say is the following:
The ZBE is mostly “policed” by cameras set up at the entrance to the city, mostly on the slip roads as you come off the ring roads. The cameras photograph numberplates and then, presumably, compare them with a database before issuing fines where applicable. So you won’t have the opportunity to explain your situation to a policeman or something like that, the fine will simply be issued automatically and then, as you say, the rental company will add their handling fee on top.
All I can suggest at this late stage is that, since the ZBE only applies until 8 pm, you could simply time your arrival for after this time. Once your car is parked it doesn’t need to be registered, as long as you don’t circulate between 7 am and 8 pm there’s no problem. If for whatever reason you need to arrive at your hotel before 8 pm, then you could park your car outside the ZBE and catch a train and/or metro into the city, then go and get your car later in the day. Not ideal but it could save you a couple of hundred Euros in fines.
If you decide to go for the latter option, let me know which road you will be arriving on and I’ll try and suggest a place to park your car.
Hi Terry,
I am driving into the centre of Barcelona on a Monday, leaving my car parked in a carpark for 7 nights, and then driving out of Barcelona the following Monday. Do I need 2 passes, for the 2 days on which I am driving, or 7 days for the 7 days my car is technically within the zone (even though it’s nt being driven). Thank you nadvance for your help!
Ciara
Hi Ciara,
To be able to give you a really comprehensive answer I’d need you to tell me whether your car is on foreign (non-Spanish) plates, whether you own the vehicle, how old it is and whether it’s petrol or diesel.
In the meantime, I’m going to assume that it’s a foreign-plated car which is less than 15 years old and you’re the owner. In this case, you just need to register your vehicle once for the entire visit.
Hi Jakub,
If you’ll only be driving in Barcelona after eight pm or before seven am then you don’t need to register your vehicle.
Hi do I need a permit to drive my uk motorhome on the c32 motorway passing by Barcelona North to South then return.
Thanks
Hi Chris,
As long as you stick to the ring roads and don’t enter the city you won’t need a permit.
Just north of Barcelona, the C-32 merges into the Ronda de Dalt ring road (B-20) which is excluded from the Low Emissions Zone.
The other alternative is to take the C-31 followed by the B-10 Ronda Litoral (B-10) ring road.
Hi Richard, Have today used your helpful Correos link and paid the €5 fee plus €2.99 for delivery to our house, sometime soon huh. As you say its better to have the sticker.
Thank you so much for your assistance.
Best wishes
Terry
You’re welcome Terry!
Hi Richard, many thanks for your quick reply.
A yellow B sticker came up. Am I right to presume that is all I need but will it expire before I return two weeks later or is just that one will be okay? So €5 approximately as you say from a post office. How soon can I get the sticker before my trip, which means entering the port on the 11th May 2022 at least two hours before our 0030 departure on the 12 May 2022?
Ps. Do the post office need anything from me apart from their fee?
Hi Terry,
If your motorhome was manufactured in 2012 you should have no problem entering the ZBE.
You can check whether your vehicle is entitled to an environmental sticker on this website by entering the registration number.
Assuming you’re vehicle is entitled to a sticker, you can purchase one at your local post office (in Spain) or online.